Since winning the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix for the big budget BMW-Sauber F1 team, Kubica had proven his worth as cool-headed decision maker in the cockpit, during an era when Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel came to prominence.
Following a season of keeping up his high standards in a Renault not befitting of them, Kubica took part in the Ronde di Andora rally, and everything changed.
He crashed into a barrier and was trapped for more than an hour after severely injuring the right-hand side of his body, and eventually having his right arm partially amputated.
“I have serious limitations in my right arm but I don’t remember how I was driving before; this is how I am now – it’s probably one of the biggest successes of my life: at one period of my recovery driving was my best medicine.
“I can see someone watching my hand, which is normal; but in the end when driving I’m fully in myself. Honestly, I have bigger limitations [elsewhere] in daily life than the race cars.”
But it was in driving racing cars where so much doubt was cast over Kubica when he returned to F1 full-time in 2019. Many wanted him back behind the wheel, despite the fact he would have to drive the car differently because of the lack of space in an F1’s car’s cockpit.
In an uncompetitive Williams, Kubica was beaten regularly by his up-and-coming team-mate George Russell.
“People pointing the finger, saying maybe it wasn’t safe, and having doubts. They are not doing it anymore,” says Kubica defiantly.
“I asked myself three years ago… I was thinking I should stop. But I’m the most lucky person around the world. I have a holiday all year because I’m doing something I like; for me racing is everything.
“Everything I do in daily life is to prepare for the race track. I don’t know what [else] I would do – [stopping] is a big decision, and a scary one.
“The passion is still there; the fire is still there. My main engine pushing me is my passion.”
